Shoe form



Sept. 10, 1935. v A LEGGE .2,014,070

SHOE FORM Filed Aug. s, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 1 A. G. LEGGE Sept. 10, 1935.

SHOE FORM Filed Aug. 8, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Incdgainior: (flit A. G. LEGGE Sept. 10, 1935.

SHOE FORM Filed Aug. 8, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I'IIIII IIII Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATE ATE? FFEQE 1 Claim.

In displaying low cut shoes it is common practice to insert therein a snugly fitting last which closes and projects through the opening in the shoe upper when the shoe is laced Lasts for this purpose are costly because of the amount of material they contain and the labor required to fit them accurately to the interior of the shoe.

It is the object of the present invention to produce a shoe form which will provide the same appearance and satisfaction as a last of the type above described but which can be manufactured at a low cost.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe form embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of a shoe, partly broken away, in which is positioned a form of the type illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the shoe and form shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified construction of a shoe form embodying the invention;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the form shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view of a further modified construction of a shoe form embodying the invention;

Fig. 8 is a View of the form shown in Fig. 7 as viewed from the bottom thereof.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational View of a further modified construction of a form embodying the invention;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken upon the line Ill-l of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevational View of a shoe in which a form of the type illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is positioned;

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of a further modified construction of a form embodying the invention;

Fig. 13 is a view of the form shown in Fig. 12 looking at the bottom thereof; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevational view of a shoe in which the form shown in Figs. 12 and 13 is positioned.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings a shoe form embodying the invention is illustrated comprising a solid body portion ll! of wood or the like which is shaped to fit snugly in engagement with the portions of the upper ll of a shoe I6 adjacent the opening 12 therein, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4. The rear portion of the body I!) of the form is extended downwardly to provide a support 55 adapted to engage the heel l5 portion of the insole of the shoe 16. A resilient member is associated with the forward portion of the body I 0 so as to urge the body I 0 upwardly and rearwardly and thus maintain the form snugly in engagement with the portions of the upper ll adjacent the opening 12 in the shoe. This may be accomplished by a spring H, as illustrated, which is secured at one end by a screw l8 to the bottom of the body l0 near the forward end thereof. The free end of the spring I1, preferably, is provided with a prong I9 which may bite into the insole and thus prevent any displacement of the form when positioned in the shoe. If desired, a hollow toe form 20 of any well known type may be positioned in the toe part of the shoe as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The body portions I0 and ID" of the forms of modified construction shown in Figs. 5 and 7 are substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 except that they are provided at their forward ends with extensions 25 and 25' respectively. The extension 25', as shown in Fig. 7, is secured to the body portion l0" by a hinge 26. In the form shown in Fig. 5, the spring H is secured to the body I0 whereas in the form shown in Fig. 7, the spring I?" is secured to the extension 25.

A form of the type illustrated in Fig. 7 is shown positioned in a shoe 16' in Fig. 11. It will be noted that the extension 25 extends forwardly and downwardly to substantially the lower extremity of the lacings of the shoe in order to insure that this portion of the shoe is maintained in its proper extended position. If desired, a toe form 20' may also be inserted in the toe part of the shoe Hi to maintain the toe part of the shoe in its extended position. It will be understood that the forms shown in Figs. 5 and 7 are solid and may be made of wood or similar material.

In Figs. 9 and 10 a further modified construction is illustrated in which the body IO of the form is made of sheet material 30, such as fiber or celluloid, molded to the desired shape so as to fit snugly against the portion of the shoe upper adjacent the opening in the shoe. Suitable supports l5 are secured, as by rivets 3|, to the body 10 and. are adapted to engage the heel portion of the insole of a shoe. A spring I1 is suitably secured to the body W as by a rivet 32.

A still further modified construction is illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 14. This construction includes a form F having a body I09 shaped to fit the portions of the upper H0 of a shoe I60 adjacent the opening I20 therein. The form F also is provided with a support I50 adapted to engage the heel portion of the insole of the shoe. The form F is resiliently connected to a toe form 200 adapted to fit into the toe part of the shoe I60, as by a spring I10 secured at one end to the form 200 by a rivet El and at its other end to the form F by a screw I80. When the toe form 200 is expanded in the toe part of the shoe, the spring I10 urges the forward portion of the form F upward and rearward snugly in engagement with the portions of the upper of the shoe adjacent the opening therein.

I claim:

A shoe form comprising a body shaped to fit the portion of a shoe upper adjacent the opening therein and close said opening, and a resilient support connected to said body, said resilient support having a prong adapted to engage the insole of the shoe and. being so shaped as to urge said body upward and rearward.

ALFRED G. LEGGE. 

